Cop hurt during struggle

A TOWNSVILLE Senior Constable has been left with cuts to his face, bruising and swelling after another attack on emergency services personnel.

The Rapid Action Patrol group officer had been in the process of arresting a man at a property on Gosper St, Vincent, on Saturday morning when his face was split open under the left eye during a struggle. Officers had gone to the property in relation to a theft matter.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed a 19- year- old Wulguru man had been charged with serious assault of a police officer, wilful damage of police property, two counts of possessing tainted property and one count of stealing. The accused was alleged to have elbowed the senior- constable in the head at about 8.30am on Saturday.

The alleged offender is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court this morning to face the charges.

In mid- May another Townsville- based senior constable needed facial reconstructive surgery after he was kicked in the head during a struggle with another person while investigating a routine noise complaint.

The officer was blindsided in that attack as the offender kicked him in the head while he was on the ground.

The kick broke the seniorconstable’s nose and fractured his cheek, prompting senior police to publicly condemn such acts of violence towards officers.